“You are what you eat” in Maharishi Ayurveda means something far more subtle and powerful. Food is known to directly influence your consciousness and feelings. It can create bliss or anger, contentment or restlessness.. The quality of the food you eat literally creates your state of mind, emotions and consciousness.
Cooking your own food provides pure therapy. It’s also an art form and an enjoyable activity to do with friends and family. Maybe some of you find it a daunting task but with little commitment and interest, you may start to like cooking. There are many reasons to cook for yourself instead of eating out. For example, it gives you greater control over the nutrition you wish to receive.
Studies correlate time spent in the kitchen to mortality rates. How does being in control of what you eat and how it is cooked helps in a better state of health? Preparing healthy meals at home can support your immune system and reduce the risk of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It can give you more energy, improve how you sleep at night, and help you better manage health problems.
4 Core Reasons To Cook For Yourself
- You Choose Your Food Sources : You hardly ever know what ingredients have gone into your foods that you eat from a restaurant. You don’t get to choose organic or locally grown foods. However, choosing to cook for yourself, you also must shop for yourself.When you control where you source your food, you can:
- Choose organic foods grown at regenerative farms: Why is this so important? Regenerative agriculture is a principle in which food is grown in a way that instead of simply extracting nutrients and life from the soil, actually builds matter and life in the soil. Its benefits are seemingly endless, including improving human health, biodiversity, resilience, and environmental health.
- Support local farms: Buying foods from local farms support small scale business and local farmers. Furthermore, it has a positive impact on the environment. Locally grown foods are fresher, seasonal, and protects green space and farmlands. Local foods also promote variety.
- Save Money: You’ll immediately realise cooking for yourself can help you trim your food budget. Local markets have cheaper prices on fresh produce than conventional supermarkets. And you are also supporting local small scale farmers in your community.
- Choose organic foods grown at regenerative farms: Why is this so important? Regenerative agriculture is a principle in which food is grown in a way that instead of simply extracting nutrients and life from the soil, actually builds matter and life in the soil. Its benefits are seemingly endless, including improving human health, biodiversity, resilience, and environmental health.
- You Control What’s on Your Plate : Consider this for a moment: When you cook at home, you choose every ingredient that goes into your body. From fresh herbs and spices to your favourite veggies — cooking for yourself gives you complete control over how your food tastes and the nutrient quotient of your meals.Maybe you want to focus on losing weight or lowering your blood cholesterol. Perhaps you’re trying to reduce the amount of artificial flavours, preservatives, and added sugars in your diet. Preparing food by yourself can amplify your efforts in reaching your health goals with little consistency and effort..
- You Participate in an Actual Art Form: The culinary arts involve preparing, cooking, and presenting food. When you cook for yourself, you participate in an ancient art form. In fact, many people can easily slip into a focused zone or meditative state while cooking. Cooking sparks creativity plus also provides therapeutic benefits.
- Eating Bliss : Foods that are whole and unadulterated contain more of the intelligence of nature, and thus create more vitality, alertness and happiness when you eat them. Think of when you have eaten stale foods, restaurant foods or canned foods. How did that make you feel? Probably dull, lethargic, bloated and even angry. Ayurveda gives a name to foods that have and create positive, spiritual qualities — they are called sattvic foods. When you cook with positive energy and joy, your energy is absorbed in your food. And taking a few minutes to give thanks for your food before eating is a traditional practice all around the world. It doesn’t have to be elaborate but just a few seconds of gratitude in your mind.
However, cooking is undoubtedly daunting. Here are some practical tips for shaking off that anxiety and learning to love it. I have listed some of my personal experiences here too.
- Keep it Simple: Start with cooking foods that you like. There is no point in seeking out the hottest ingredients for a viral recipe if you don’t know if you’ll even like them. Try out rice and dal or your favourite pasta dish that you often crave. Cooking with simple ingredients, or with just a few of them, is the easiest way to stay on top of what it is you’re making.
My Story- As far as I remember, the first thing I ever cooked was an Indian “Chai” which I didn’t drink but my mum wanted me to make for her. She guided me with the measurements and I had seen her multiple times making it so it was easy and straightforward. It did help build a speck of confidence in me. 😉
- Cook for Yourself : If you are new to the whole idea of preparing a meal then make something for yourself. It can be immensely stressful if you have to cook for someone else while you are still getting comfortable in the kitchen. Avoid the overwhelm as cooking requires some organisational skills and time management.
- Cook According to your Budget : One of the worst things about having a dish fail is the waste of ingredients, and consequent waste of money. Never go out to a gourmet shop and buy exotic ingredients to try a new dish. It can be very disappointing and demotivating. And, eating out or takeaway may seem like a more viable and cheaper option.
My story- When I moved to Norway for the first time, I got so excited to see an array of clean, fresh vegetables and fruits. They had so many varieties of sauces, curry pastes etc. I would always end up buying more than what my husband and I could consume in a week. I had to either pass it to my next door neighbour or throw away the spoiled ingredients. I not only wasted our money but also wasted time, effort and food. Not good!!!
- Have Fun : Remember to enjoy yourself as you explore cooking as a healthy, cost-effective activity. Few failures should not dampen your spirit. It is a lifelong skill and knowing that it can bring vitality and long term health to you will make the journey worth the effort.
- Keep it Simple: Start with cooking foods that you like. There is no point in seeking out the hottest ingredients for a viral recipe if you don’t know if you’ll even like them. Try out rice and dal or your favourite pasta dish that you often crave. Cooking with simple ingredients, or with just a few of them, is the easiest way to stay on top of what it is you’re making.
Cooking for yourself most of the time rather than eating out can provide many benefits well worth the effort. So my friend, I hope this article has inspired you to start making your own meals and experiment a little more with seasonal, fresh ingredients. In the process, you will look after your own health, the health of the environment, and the health of your wallet.
Note: I host private and group cooking classes to teach you skills that will transform your health. Are you someone who likes the idea of cooking but doesn’t know how, where and what of it? Reach me via email here. And LET’S TALK.
Disclaimer: Always consult your GP/PHYSICIANS. This article is no way giving you any medical recommendations or asking you to override your doctor’s advice. Nurture Yourself is not responsible for any health issues you may have or develop in future.